Apparatus for evaporating and concentrating liquids



Feb; 3, 1931. I M, J,KE RMER 1,791,317

APPARATUS FOR EVAPORATING AND CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS I Filed Dec. 10. 1925 i; -50 57' 929 U A v 0 75 a1 as Patented Feb. 3, 1931 Helen 'MARTIN J'. KERIVIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Application filed December 10, 1925. Serial No. 74,643.

This invention relates to apparatus for evaporating and concentrating liquids.

One of the objects of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of apparatus for concentrating and treating liquids.

Another object is to provide, in a condenser, means for automatically maintaining the liquid in a uniformly thin film upon the rotating, heated surface of the device to prevent over heating of the denser product and under heating the lighter product by variation in duration of time that the product re mains in contact with the heated surfaces.

A further object is the provision of means for automatically discharging the product from the top, open end of a vertical rotating member by centrifugal effect and automatic mechanical means for reenforcing said centrifugal elfect by advancing the movement of the concentrate to discharge it from the same end of said member while a sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained within the same.

Other objects, advantages and benefits will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing forming a part hereof; wherein so On the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of one embodiment of the invention, showing parts in section; V b

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bottom part of the device enlarged and a conveyor to assist centrifugal action to forcibly eject the heavier concentrate out of the cylinder;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one side of the upper end of Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section of the steam admitting pipe.

In all of the views the same reference characters indicate similar parts.

As shown on the drawings The standard 10, of suitable character is arranged to support the concentrator. A cylindrical jacket 11 enclosing a steam chamher is fixed upon the standard. A relatively short jacket section 12 is fixed to the lower end of the main section 11, between it and the standard, these two sections are held together by the usual flanges and bolts.

Supported on the upper end of member 11 V is a bearing-head 13. The head suspendingly supports a rotatable conical member or barrel 14 which depends therefrom into the chamber of the acket 11-12. The member 14 is secured to a ring 15 which has an annular c0 flange 16 about its lower end. The head 13 has an annular flange 17 within its lower end v providing a cavity into which extends the flange 16. The cavity is intended to contain mercury or the like to form a steam packing for steam in the steam space 19 inside of the jacket 11. This feature is more particularly described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 2,773, tiled January 16th, 1925, now Letters Patent No. 1,598,282. The ring 15 is rotatably supported by the ball-bearing structure 20 in a manner clearly evident. An annular ring 21 overlies the members 22 and 23 of the fixed head 13 and is rotatable with the ring 15 and cylinder 14. The ring 21 hasa downwardly extending vertical flange 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned.

The member 14 is tapered uniformly, in gradually increasing gradations of continub0 ously larger area from its bottom end to its top end, which is the top end of the ring 15.

A tube or pipe 25 extends thru the bearing 26 into the lower end of the tapered member 14, where it is fastened. This tube is rotatable by a pulley 27, or any other suitable means, and in turn rotates the member 14.

Liquid to be concentrated, or otherwise treated is admitted into the member 14 through the tube 25.

The speed of the member 14 shall be such that the centrifugal effect thus engendered shall be suliici-ent to cause the contained liquid to move up on the inner surface of the tapered 5 wall of the same in a relatively thin film, and spill over the top edge of the ring 15, which is effectively the top of the member, into the fixed hollow head 28 from which it may be discharged thru the pipe 29. The flanged ring 21 prevents the liquid from entering the structure 13-15.

The flange 24 overlies the upturned edge of the casing 31 of the stationary head 28 nd it rotatable with respect thereto.

An exhaust pipe 32 connects the head 28 with a suitable exhaust pump for exhausting the air and other gases from the tapered, rotatable member l l.

The cross section of the jacket 11 may be in form as shown in Figure 1 in which there are as many vertical shoulders 38 as there are steam admission pipes Eli and which are connected by pipes 35 to a suitable source of steam supply. Each of the pipes 35 has a controlli alve 36. instead of steam, other suitable fluid or liquid agencies may be used.

The pipes are each split or slotted longitudina 8'4", the gaps between the split edges extol c in radial planes from the longitudinal axis of the rotatable cylinder 14:

IO a purpos.-.to be herein fter more particu larly pointed out.

The lower end of tube 25,e:tending from the lower end of the member a Figure 2, terminates in a receptacle 38. The liquid to be acted upon is fed thru pipe 89 into receptacle 38 and thence thjru tube 25 into the member 14:. A gland packing surrounds the pipe ortube 25 at its entrance'into the receptacle 38 to allow rotation of said pipe with respect thereto and to provide a lealetight connection.

A spiral, or screw conveyor member 40 6X- tends thru receptacle 38, pipe 25 and into member 14;. It is anchored in the receptacle 38 by an angular end ll which extends into an angular socket in the floor of the receptacle so that the member 40 cannot turn. A ring l2 a means by which the member 40 may be withdrawn from the pipe 25 and the socket 41.

The condensed steam accumulates inside the jacket 11 and finds an outlet thru pipe 43.

For forcibly ejectin or pumping the water of condensed steam 1170111 the cylinder 11 I may secure to the bottom end of the member 14 one or two turns or flights of a spiral conveyor id which rotates with the tapered cylinder l4 and which will force the water out of member 11 by rotation of cylinder 1 the latter serving as its own pump. The spiral. conveyor member 40 in cooperation with the rotating tube 25, assists the centrifugal action of the member 14 in li ting the liquid, being acted upon therein, out of the cylinder 14, to cause it to more readily overflow into the header 28, at its top enlarged end.

Steam or other heat transferring agency or fluid is admitted into thejachet chamber surrounding member lthru pipes 35 and slotted vertical pip-es 3e. Owingto the charactcr of the slots 37 in pipes thesteam or other fluid under pressure will strike the outer surface of the member 141- in atrue radial plane and its impact on the cylinder will prevent formation of a moisture film on the outer surface of the member, thereby preventing intervention of said heat insulating film and permitting a larger contribution of heat available for the contents of member 14.

The shoulders 83 adjacent the pipes 3% prevent spreading of the projected agency on the surface of member let in a contra-direction to rotation so that the surfaces presented the pipes 34 have previously been freed of moisture by centrifugal act-ion and therefore the operation of the device for transfer of heat is highly efiicient.

The column of liquid in the tube or pipe 25 together with the spiral member 40 forms a seal for member l l while being exhausted of air and other gases or fluids, addition to its other described functions.

am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A liquid concentrator. comprising a vertically-disposed upwardly and outwardly tapered, rotatable member open at its upper end; a. jacket tov contain steam, surrounding said member; a pipe substantially parallel with the adjacent surface. of said member having a longitudinal slot therein comprising asteam opening in a plane radial to saidaizis means parallel with the pipe and disposed on one side thereof to prevent the steam from spreading in a dircetion opposed to the direc tion of rotation of the member and a fixed head overlying theopen end ofthe member.

2. A concentrator, including a vertically.

disposed rotatable member to contain a liquid; a steam aclzet about said member; a. pipe extending into the. lower, end of said member and rotatable therewith; a screw conveyor extending thru. said pipe andv into said member and held against rotationtherewith and means to rotate said memben and P e- 3. A concentrator, including a vertically disposed,rotatablemember tapered in grade? tions uniformly increasing. in area. fromits bottom end; a steam jaclret about said Poem.- berg an axially positioned pipe fined in its lower end; a non-rotatable sp ial conveyor member in saidpipe; a receptacle below. said member into whichithe pipe and conveyor enter; a pipe thru which to pass a liquid into said receptacle and said; first v named pipe; and means to rotate the memberandsaid iirst, namedpipe.

A qiiidise ssl s se porator. ongnr i ss l tem l y bil fil ic lfi l lm be r a vertically arrapged rotatableitapered member within said chamber having the smaller end down, a pipe passing through said chamber and opening into said member and rotatable therewith, a receptacle fixed below said chamber and with which said pipe communicates, said pipe being arranged to rotate in said receptacle, a spiral conveyor fixed in said receptacle and extending through said pipe, means for delivering liquid to said receptacle, means for rotating said tapered member, and means for discharging liquid spilled over the top of said member.

5. A liquid concentrator and evaporator comprising a substantially cylindrical chamber, a vertically arranged rotatable tapered member within said chamber having the smaller end down, a pipe passing through said chamber and opening into said member and rotatable therewith, a receptacle fixed below said chamber and with which said pipe communicates, said pipe being arranged to rotate in said receptacle, a spiral conveyor fixed in said receptacle and extending through said pipe, means for delivering liquid to said receptacle, means for rotating said tapered member, means for discharging liquid spilled over the top of said member, and a plurality of pipes arranged parallel to the sides of said tapered member and alongside the same, said pipes having slots therein, and means for feeding steam to said pipes for discharge against said member.

6. A concentrator, including a vertically disposed rotatable member having an opening in its bottom and a depending pipe fixed therein, a spiral conveyor arranged within said pipe and opening and fixed against rotation therewith, said conveyor and pipe extending into a source of liquid supply so that rotation of the pipe and member will cause elevation of liquid along said stationary conveyor and into said member, a steam jacket surrounding said member and having a a condensate outlet at its lower end, a spiral conveyor secured to the outside surface of said member to assist in moving the condensate in said jacket through said outlet on rotation of said pipe and member, and means to rot-ate the pipe and member.

7 In combination, a receiving and discharging member, an open ended tube fixedly secured to said member, means for rotatably supporting said member and tube in a substantially vertical position, a screw conveyor fixed against rotation, extending through said tube to said member, means to rotate said tube and member, and a steam jacket about said member for supplying heat to same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MARTIN J. KERMER. 

